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While we’ve all see the effects of urban sprawl, one village is taking this spread to a whole new level. According to an article by Fast Company, ReGen Villages is a new form of urban sprawl that is taking advantage of technology in a whole new way.

The Netherlands’ micro-city is offering residents a completely “high-tech eco village” that integrates artificial intelligence to manage many of the area’s functions. From systems that will take care of renewable energy to food production and water supply, ReGen Villages may give a glimpse into the new trend for urban sprawl and what may be the ideal living situation for many.

Twelve members of Forbes Technology Council share what the future of urban sprawl is and the role technology plays in the creation of smart communities. Here’s what they have to say:

1. Eco Villages Are Part Of The Answer

I think eco villages are part of the future of urban sprawl and will serve the needs of consumers who want that lifestyle. There will be smarter cities that improve urban living as well, which will add to the overall sprawl solution. - Chalmers Brown, Due

2. An Open Platform Will Drive Innovation

I see this is as a great model of ways to start an eco village. I believe that this is an experiment, and folks will learn from it and use that for larger deployment. One has to ensure that this stays as an open platform, where the citizens, entrepreneurs and administrators are able to leverage this ecosystem and innovate. By keeping the platform open, there will be innovation, a good feedback system and larger deployment at a lower cost. - Naresh Soni, Tsunami ARVR

3. No Utopia Overnight

AI is going to mismanage these civic elements in some way at some point. We don't know what that disaster will look like, but it has to come, just like accidents with self-driving cars. However, if the compact and highly efficient elements of digital technology can improve the lives of entire communities, that is certainly an exciting possibility. - Arnie Gordon, Arlyn Scales

4. Data Collection At Its Best

For communities running a budget deficit, smart communities will have a positive impact, but the people will risk sacrificing their data privacy to the private companies and governments behind the AI. AI can certainly manage a community or city more efficiently than people, but who has access to its treasure trove of collected user data, and how will they use it? - Jeremy Merrell Williams, Vyudu Inc.

Thinking of a computer automatically planning the route of a garbage truck may be an exciting technical challenge, but the challenges that underpin the basic services required for a functional urban center have long been conquered by the original AI -- the human mind. City planners and businesses that provide services are constantly micro-optimizing their routes without the need for utopian AI. - Jason Gill, The HOTH

7. This Is Just The Beginning

In our increasingly connected world, technologies -- including AI, IoT and blockchain -- that aim to deliver greater efficiency have huge potential to help society and our planet. It's exciting to see things begin to take shape and will be even more interesting to see how the impact of technology develops and evolves over time. - Allison Clift-Jennings, Filament

8. Laws And People Will Need To Adapt

As a technology enthusiast, I never doubt that the latest generation of technology can help improve the quality of life for everyone; AI and IoT are already proving their value. However, I doubt the success of these villages in the near future -- not because the technology can't do amazing things but because people and laws will need to adapt to such systems, and that will take time. - Xinwen Zhang, Hiretual

9. Turning More Small Towns Smart

As cities become expensive and crowded, people will move to smart smaller cities and towns. A smart town has a high walk score and invests in its outdoor recreational activities such as lakes, trails, rivers and parks. My town of Gastonia, North Carolina, is considered a suburb of Charlotte, NC, but it has its own walkable downtown. With the right redevelopment plans, we can make more small towns smart. - Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster

10. Lack Of Transportation Could Become A Problem

At first glance, ReGen Villages' vision is idyllic -- a totally reimagined suburb that is self-sufficient and feeds and powers itself. But there's something missing in the literature and the mock-ups -- transportation. Suburbs and sprawl are the reason we need freeways, and the reason that they are clogged. ReGen Villages will need a solution to avoid creating the same problem. - Raphaël Gindrat, Bestmile

11. Managing Limited Resources With Climate Change

The future direction of urban sprawl -- especially with scarce resources and a limited labor force to manage food production, water supply and waste -- is definitely moving toward AI. ReGen Villages are indicative of how much community resources can be interconnected. Utilizing appropriate sensors to collect data, we should be able to predict which areas require water as well as which areas require waste recycling for fertilizer. - Haim Glickman, Sungard Availability Services Limited

12. Wealthy Urban Sprawls Will Benefit The Most

Long term, AI will grow as an effective technology to manage urban systems. That said, new technology is expensive, so the wealthiest of communities among us will benefit most. Sadly, as we've seen with economic disparities and the internet, lower-income areas will lag behind, increasing inequality. This will negatively impact minorities disproportionately. One can only hope our government will care. - David Isaac Murray, Doctor.com

Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only, fee-based organization comprised of leading CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Find out if you qualify at forbestechcouncil.com. Questions about an article? Email feedback@forbescouncils.com....